Sheila MacRae, an actress and singer best known for playing Alice Kramden in the ’60s version of The Honeymooners , died on Thursday. She was 92. She died at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, N.J., her daughter Heather MacRae said of the star, who portrayed Alice from 1966-1970. Alice, the long-suffering, tough-talking wife of Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason), became a fixture in the “Honeymooners” sketches on The Jackie Gleason Show . For 26 years, MacRae was married to Gordon MacRae, a singer-actor best known for starring in the movie versions of musicals Oklahoma! and Carousel . The MacRaes performed as a duo for nearly a decade in nightclubs, on TV and in concerts across the U.S., and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show . MacRae acted in a few movies and appeared on I Love Lucy and other shows, taking a break to have the couple’s first child before returning to perform. She wrote in her 1992 memoir, “Hollywood Mother of the Year,” that his drinking and gambling was an issue but she wanted to stay close to keep an eye on him. Her memoir was named for an award she received the year her marriage began falling apart, and in it, she made some surprising statements about their life. During her husband’s woes, MacRae rebuffed overtures from suitors including Henry Fonda, Peter Sellers and Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Sheila McCrae turned down a marriage proposal from Frank Sinatra, she said. As troubled as her marriage was, Ms. MacRae was reluctant to divorce. “I would have had to take Gordy to court for divorce and spill all the secrets about his drinking and gambling,” she revealed much later in a 1992 interview. The couple eventually separated in 1965 and divorced in 1967. She wed Ronald Wayne the same year; they divorced in 1970. Sheila MacRae is survived by two children, Heather and William, also known as Gar; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; Mr. MacRae died in 1986. Celebrities We Lost in 2014 Open Slideshow 1. Philip Seymour Hoffman R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014). He will forever be missed! View As List 1. Philip Seymour Hoffman R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014). He will forever be missed! 2. James Avery James Avery has passed away. The beloved star of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was 65. 3. Pete Seeger Pete Seeger has passed away. The late singer and activist was 94. 4. Shirley Temple Shirley Temple was a childhood star in the 1930s. She passed away at the age of 85. 5. Phil Everly A photo of the late Phil Everly. He passed away in early 2014. 6. Anna Gordy Gaye Anna Gordy Gaye passed away in early 2014. She was the sister of Berry Gordy and the wife of Marvin Gaye. 7. Eric Lawson Eric Lawson stars here as The Marloboro Man. He died from lung cancer at the age of 72. 8. Roy Garber Roy Garber passed away in January 2014. He was a star on Shipping Wars. 9. Cassandra Lynn Hensley Rest in peace, Cassandra Lynn Hensley. The Playboy Playmate was found dead in January 2014. 10. Darryl Robinson Darryl Robinson of Cooking Channel fame has died. He was just 50. 11. Sid Caesar Sid Caesar has died. He was 91 years old and will be missed. 12. Ralph Waite Ralph Waite is seen here on NCIS. The actor died at the age of 86. 13. John Henson Picture Rest in peace, John Henson. This member of The Muppets family died in early 2014. 14. Jamie Coots Jamie Coots has died from a snake bite. The reality star appeared on the series Snake Salvation. 15. Michele Savoia Michele Savoia, a famed Broadway costume designer, has passed away at the age of 55. 16. Bob Casale Bob Casale, second from right, was the guitarist for the ’80s band Devo, best known for the hit song “Whip It.” R.I.P. 17. Harold Ramis Harold Ramis passed away at the age of 69. We’ll always adore the actor for his role in Ghostbusters. 18. Jim Lange Jim Lange has passed away. The Dating Game host was 81. 19. Tim Wilson Comedian Tim Wilson, who incorporated NASCAR into his routines, has died. R.I.P. 20. Speaker Knockerz Speaker Knockerz has passed away. The young emerging rapper was only 19. 21. Sheila MacRae Sheila MacRae, best known as Alice from The Honeymooners, died in March 2014 at the age of 92.
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Sheila MacRae Dies; Honeymooners Actress Was 92
